Academics and actors of civil society who work in the field of the environment met recently within the framework of the second Environment and Sustainable Development Meeting in the Grand Casablanca region (Casa REDD-2), in order to identify the contribution of the university and associations to improve the environmental situation at the regional level. Organised by the Morocco Sciences and Sustainable Development Association (MS2D), the Casa Environment network, and the Ben M'sik Faculty of Sciences, Casablanca, this event treated in workshops the training of trainers in the field of the environment, cleanliness and green spaces, and the sustainable development of the coastline, industrial, and urban zones. The participants thus highlighted the problems that the economic capital encounters in terms of the environment, but also the solutions to be adopted. Faced with the degradation of Casablanca's public gardens, they propose the creation of a Green Brigade to observe, issue fines, and initiate legal proceedings against any attack on the environment, with a green call number to alert them and report infractions. Competitions for “Best Flowered Street”, “Best Flowered Neighbourhood”, “Best Green Space”... could also encourage Casablancans to respect nature more. According to the environmental specialists participating in Casa REDD-2, encouraging making our streets greener, as well as our houses, the entrances to homes, shops, terraces, balconies, and vacant lots, as well as the installation of wall plants, allows for improving the quality of life in the city. Roughly speaking, there should be a development of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Grand Casablanca. And it is up to civil associations to encourage residents to adopt these citizen gestures. Nevertheless, the latter should be trained to do so. In this context, Casa REDD-2 recommends the integration and valorisation of associative work in the Moroccan educational system, from the youngest age until university. Environmental education could be introduced into school curricula, particularly in entrepreneurship modules. For existing associations, it is proposed to accompany them to participate in calls for tenders relating to spatial planning and the environment. “Associations, particularly the smaller ones, are not equipped to participate in large projects. Yet, they are full of creative human capacities that only ask to work for the good of their entourage”, explains a specialist in the training of associative actors. And to add that even if certain initiatives emanating from civil society can be decisive for the improvement of the quality of life, the involvement of the State is necessary. Same sentiment from the organisers and participants in Casa REDD-2. The latter recommend the integration of environmental concerns into economic and political decisions for sustainable development in Casablanca. This factor will allow for respecting a minimum of green space for any construction authorisation issued by the competent authorities and to give subsidies to encourage the production of renewable energies. Awareness-raising among decision-makers, citizens, and associative actors will, moreover, allow for reserving and developing the existing green heritage, but also for limiting galloping urbanisation.

The first Environment and Sustainable Development Meeting in the Grand Casablanca region took place on 14 February 2012 and was crowned by the publication of recommendations in the form of a “Green Environmental Sheet of Casablanca”. Following this meeting, a synergy between different regional associations saw the light of day and resulted in the creation, in April 2012, of the Network of Casablanca Associations for the Environment and Sustainable Development (Casa Environment). According to this network, training, awareness-raising, and action on the ground are the pillars of a promising environmental future for the Grand Casablanca region: “The environment and sustainable development represent a major concern of the 21st century and the university must play a primordial role in the dissemination of knowledge and training”.

-* Other recommendations:

-* Involvement of academics to participate in the training of associative actors.

-* Creation of amusement parks with activities dedicated to respect for the environment.

-* Development of selective sorting and recycling.

-* Installation and maintenance of public toilets throughout the city.

-* Financial aid to encourage collective or individual consumption of clean energy.